August 30, 2021
A Message From The Supervisor:
I want to take the time to remind everyone to be safe as we continue to deal with COVID-19. There are a number of new precautions in place for events and dining. While these precautions can be a tough change, I ask that you continue to support our City's businesses and adhere to the processes set forth to keep patrons safe.Â
Over the weekend the Friends of McLaren Park and OMICPP hosted their District 11 community clean up in McLaren Park. Neighbors from throughout the District came together to pick up trash and beautify the largest park we have in our District. I was excited to see this happen as the park became a popular destination throughout the pandemic. We are continuously working to improve accessibility and safety in the park.Â
The month of August has been a break from our legislative process at the Board of Supervisors. My colleagues and I are excited to return to the chamber and work together to help restore San Francisco as we continue to recover during the pandemic.Â
Our office remains accessible to the public through telephone, email, virtual meeting or in person via appointment.  We are available by email: safaistaff@sfgov.org or by phone 415-554-6976 (leave a message and we will call you back). You can also check for updates on my Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Stay safe and healthy.
Please note - if you miss my weekly newsletter, you may find it later on the Board of Supervisor’s website. Click HERE to read past newsletters.
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Sincerely,
Supervisor Ahsha SafaiÂ
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Updates to San Francisco's Response to COVID-19
- Proof of full vaccination is required for all patrons 12+ in many indoor settings. The City is doing this for public safety, and to keep our businesses OPEN. Some helpful need-to-know details: sf.gov/vaxrequired
- "Full Vaccination" means two weeks after your final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
- You cannot self-attest your vaccination status or show proof of a negative COVID-19 test.Â
- A photo of a COVID vaccine card ISÂ valid and must be accepted by businesses where proof is required.Â
- SF currently accepts all World Health Organization (WHO) approved vaccines for visitors outside of the United States. Proof of vaccination is still required as well as a photo ID. More verification information may be found here.Â
- This applies to indoor settings where food or drink is served and large indoor events over 1K attendees, regardless if food or drink are served.Â
- Also applies to private events with less than 1,000 individuals if food and drink will be served indoors (like weddings and memorial services that take place at a venue).
- Employees of aforementioned establishments will be required to show vaccination status by Oct. 13 to give time to meet the requirements of their employment.Â
- Yes, you will still need to wear a mask indoors, even if you are vaccinated.Â
- Masks are still required at all indoor businesses, regardless of vaccination status.Â
- All SF businesses and government buildings must post a version of this flyer at public entrances. Masks are required for all in public indoor places.Â
- Wear your masks correctly: many employers have asked for support with collateral to share with patrons and visitors. Please print and point to this flyer.                                            Â
- Questions about the Delta Variant? Check out the COVID-19 Variants FAQ. Please refer to this flyer to find what you need to know about COVID variants + helpful community resources.Â
- New High-Volume Testing Site Opened in SOMA.
- Located at 7th and Brannan Streets in the South of Market neighborhood.
- The site can administer 500 tests per day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week by appointment only, which include drive-thru and walk-up services.Â
- All current SF testing sites may be found here.Â
- FDA grants full approval of Pfizer-BioNTech two-dose COVID-19 vaccine for people 16+.
- The FDA is still reviewing data on 12-15 year olds, which is why it is still under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).Â
- We hope full approval of the Pfizer vaccine will lead to more people getting vaccinated, and further increase our City’s vaccination rate of nearly 80% of eligible San Franciscans.
- Vaccinations Available Onsite.
- To date, nearly 90% of City and County of San Francisco employees have been vaccinated against COVID-19. It is essential that all departments work to encourage and support employees to be vaccinated as soon as possible. Vaccines are available at no cost to all employees and can be brought onsite to your workplaces. Please reach out to Fiona.Wilson@sfgov.org to schedule an onsite vaccination clinic.
- NEW required signage businesses and government buildings must post at public entrances and in employee-facing areas. All signs are translated in English, Cantonese, Spanish, and Filipino.
- Come to any City Hall entrance between 8 am to 5 pm to pick up required signage, including the newest Masking & Vaccination Required sign. See list of required and recommended signage here.
- School is back in session. For many parents, guardians, students, and staff, getting back to classrooms is a step in the right direction. Still, until the COVID-19 vaccine is approved for children under 12 years old, back to school could be stressful and worrisome.
- San Francisco has one of the highest vaccination rates in the nation with 79% of our eligible population fully vaccinated. Impressively, 99% of our 12 to 17-year-olds have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Middle and high schools will be safer because of the high vaccination rates among teens in San Francisco.
- Bay Area Health Officers Reaffirm Support for Full In-Person School.Â
- The State’s K-12 Schools Guidance for the 2021-22 School Year is practical guidance that emphasizes universal application of the most important safety measures while also offering flexibility for different approaches to meet the needs and capacities of a broad range of schools and districts seeking to safely keep children in classrooms.
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Slow Street Survey
With the recent removal of the Slow Street on Excelsior Avenue, this comment card is an opportunity to let us know if you would like to see a replacement Slow Street in the Excelsior neighborhood. Please help inform residents in your neighborhood through your communication channels about the comment card. SFMTA relies on community participation to guide our planning and design process.
The comment card will be live and accepting comments until 9/10/2021.
Access the digital comment card using the link below:
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6471046/a71a3c8cad4d
For more information about the reasoning behind the removal of the Slow Street on Excelsior Avenue:
https://www.sfmta.com/project-updates/slow-streets-program-update-august-10-2021
For more information on the Slow Streets Program visit www.SFMTA.com/SlowStreets
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If you or other have any questions please email us directly at  SlowStreets@sfmta.com.
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Transit Month September 2021
Join San Francisco Transit Riders for Transit Month, September 1-30! Sign up for the Ride Contest to win fabulous prizes - each entry is eligible for our raffle, and prizes will be awarded for great transit photos, great transit stories, and folks with the most rides.Â
September 1: We’ll be kicking off the month with Transit Outreach Hubs around the city - stop by for transit goodies and share your transit pictures online.Â
September 8: Riders and city leaders will meet up at locations around the city to ride Muni together to City Hall - where we’ll hold our Transit Month Rally starting at 8:45 AM!
October 1: We’ll hold an outdoor edition of our Rider First Awards party. Join us in honoring people who have made a positive difference for transit riders this year - and nominate your own transit hero!
Together, let’s celebrate the central role public transit plays in San Francisco’s recovery, and in our lives every day. More information at transitmonth.org.
Moving SF - 29 Sunset Improvement Project Relaunched
At the beginning of 2020, the SFMTA’s 29 Sunset Improvement Project was ready to kick-off a year-long outreach program. However, the COVID-19 pandemic  delayed the project and priorities were shifted to developing and implementing Temporary Emergency Transit Lanes (TETL) and service changes to respond to COVID and then restore service on Muni routes incrementally over the past year and a half. Please click the following link to participate in the survey: https://www.sfmta.com/projects/29-sunset-improvement-project
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Rapid Response Virtual Info Sessions
for Workers and Businesses
Ask Live Questions! Workforce partners can provide you with information about:Â
- Job Training
- Career Services
- Union Member Resources
- Healthcare Options
- Unemployment Insurance Filing Process
1st Tuesdays
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Register: workforce.oewd.org/rr
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Updated Health Order - Info and Resources for Businesses
Starting last week, covered businesses will require all patrons age 12 and older to show proof that they are Fully Vaccinated before entering any indoor portion of a facility, subject only to exceptions found in the Health Order and any applicable requirements of federal, state, or local laws requiring accommodation. Employees will be required to meet these requirements by October 13, 2021.
- The new requirements apply to certain high-contact indoor sectors such as those that serve food or drink like bars, restaurants, clubs, movie theaters, gyms, other fitness establishments, and large indoor events (1,000-4,999 people). (The state already requires proof of full vaccination status for indoor mega-events, defined as 5,000+ people.)
- Health care workers are included and San Francisco is closing certain exemptions in the state health order to require vaccinations for all health care workers at adult day centers, residential care facilities, dentists, home health aides, and pharmacists.
- This does not include individuals ordering or picking up food or drink to go.
REQUIRED SIGNS
There is newly required signage that businesses must post at public entrances and in employee-facing areas. They combine the signage for indoor masking with the new vaccination requirement, in multiple languages.
Download and print signage:
If you're unable to print your signs, you can pick them up at City Hall at the Goodlett and Grove Street entrances. Contact Paul Lupino at paul.lupino@sfgov.org for questions about the signs.
PROOF OF FULL VACCINATION
Covered Businesses MAY NOT accept a written self-attestation of vaccination as proof.
The following are the ONLY acceptable proof of Full Vaccination:
- the CDC vaccination card, which includes name of person vaccinated, type of vaccine provided, and date last dose administered, or similar documentation issued by another foreign governmental jurisdiction;
- a photo or copy of a vaccination card as a separate document;
- a photo of a vaccination card stored on a phone or electronic device;
- documentation of vaccination from a healthcare provider; or
- a personal digital COVID-19 vaccine record issued by the State of California and available by going to myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov or similar documentation issued by another state, local, or foreign governmental jurisdiction, or by an approved private company (view a list of approved companies offering digital vaccine cards).
Coming Soon: Storefront Vandalism Relief Grant
The Office of Economic and Workforce Development is expecting to launch applications for the Storefront Vandalism Relief Grant at the end of August 2021. In the interim, please visit the webpage which includes details on how businesses should prepare in order to apply in the amount of $1,000 or $2,000 to go towards storefront vandalism-related damages. Incidents are retroactive to January 1, 2021. There is also a registration link which allows small businesses to send questions, receive updates, and be notified when the program launches. Click HERE for the website.
Federal Unemployment Programs Ending Soon
The federal unemployment extensions and supplemental payments enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic end on September 4, 2021. Fed-Ed, a separate federal program for states with high unemployment, will end on September 11.
Please see below for financial resources available for some individuals who are unemployed:
Counties administer state-funded programs such as CalWORKS, General Assistance, CalFresh, WIC and MediCal. San Francisco County residents may apply for benefits here . San Francisco also has its own rental assistance program and water rate reduction programs for San Francisco residents. |
CleanPowerSF Announces New Discount Programs for Disadvantaged CommunitiesÂ
CleanPowerSF, one of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s (SFPUC) renewable electricity service programs, is announcing new initiatives that will offer access to 100 percent renewable energy at a 20 percent discount for eligible residential customers.
The programs, supported by the California Public Utilities Commission, are designed to increase renewable energy use in the state’s disadvantaged communities (DACs), as defined by CalEnviroScreen. This mapping tool helps identify California communities most affected by multiple sources of pollution and where people are especially vulnerable to those impacts.
For more information, interested organizations can visit CleanPowerSF.org/CommunitySponsor and register for informational webinars on August 31 and September 2.
Contact jrandazzo@sfwater.org for questions. |
| Thank you to our amazing community members for your commitment to keeping our neighborhood clean! Clean up day at McLaren Park + Gigantic 3 large item collection was a success! |
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